Trip to Panama for backpacking tourist ends in tragedy

Catherine Johannet went missing on February 2, 2017. Her lifeless body was found on February 5, 2017.

people.com reported what was a trip abroad has become a homicide investigation: Preliminary forensic results show Johannet was strangled, according to Panamanian media outlets En Segundos, La Prensa and Next TV Panama. It was not immediately clear when authorities believe she was killed.

Johannet — a seasoned traveler who relatives said had visited six continents — was last seen alive about 10 a.m. Thursday on Colon Island in Bocas del Toro, Panama, where she had been staying, according to The Journal News. She planned to travel to Bastimentos Island that same day, according to the News.

When she failed to return, the hostel on Colon Island reported her missing Thursday night, her sister, Laura, wrote on Facebook. Catherine was found dead on Sunday afternoon, according to La Prensa.Read Article